Fruit coring, sizing, and slicing machine



E. I. LEWIS. FRUIT CORING, SIZING, AND SLICING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 7. I92I.

Patented May 9, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I- E. I. LEWIS. FRUIT CORING, SIZING, AND SLIIIINGl MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7. |921.

Patented May 9, 1922.

s sains-sain 2.

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E. I. LEWIS.

FRUIT BORING, SIZING, AND SLICING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 1. I92I.

1,415,458., Patented May 9,' 1922.

5 sHETs-sHEET s. 4 ze Y /07 M4 /af/ o [j y /o l l 4/ 4 4/ if @ai /f ifi? E. J. LEWIS. FRUIT CORING,v SIZING, AND SLCNG MACHINE. APPLICATION msn Nnv. I, 1921.

1,415,458, Patented May 9, 1922,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

ELGIE J'. LEWIsQoF MIDDLE'PORT. NEW Yonx.

FRUIT come, sIzING,AND sLICING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented .Mja-y 9, 1922..

'Alipncation nieu Noveinb'er 2, 1921. serial No. 513,210.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ELGIE J. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at lMiddle- Y port, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit Coring, Sizing, .and

Slicing Machines, vof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tofruit coring,'siz ing :and slicing machines `of the type particularly adapted to be used on pine-apples and like fruits.

The objects of`the invention are to provide a machinelof this type which is capable of simultaneously coring and sizing the fruit; also to provide a machine of this kind in which the, operations of coring, sizing, slicing and removing the skin from the machine are effected during a single cycle of operation of the machine; also to provide a machine of this kind with slicing means of improved construction; also to provide a machine of this kind having improved means for centering and holding a fruit to Abe cored; also to provide improvements in skin tripping devices for machines of this ytype; also to improve the construction of machines of this kind in the other respects hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fruit coring, sizing and slicing machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2.is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof on an enlarged scale, showing the gripping and coring mechanism;

ig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, ofthe portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2, showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 5 is a top plan vview of the machine. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, showing the conveying .and slicing `mechanism;` v ,A

Fig. 7 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of -a portion of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a plan viewv of the portion of the machine shown inFig. 7. i

Fig. 9 .'s a transverse sectional elevation on an enlarged scale ofthe slicingmechanism. v F1g.'10 is a fragmentary lelevation of a.

. Vnportion of. the slicing .mechanism thereof,A

showingA the 'means `for securing the slicing knives.

` Fig. 11 is a' transverse section on line l1,

Fig.

Fig. 12 is av line 12-12, Flg. 7

The preferred embodiment ofthe inven.

tion illustratedcomprises generally, a frame sectional plan Viewl thereof on or stand on which the operating parts of the i machine are mounted, a sizing tube or member, a mdvable holder for the fruit, and a coring device which is movable with respect to said holder and said sizing tube for. removing the core from the fruit, together with means for actuating the respective parts, and a slicing mechanism for slicing the fruit after the same'has been` cored and sized. fl" i' The operating parts of the mabliinejmay be mounted on any suitable frame, which in the Amachine illustrated, includes a platform or table 15 which is supported `by a suitable number of legs 16.

17 designates a holding device or head which is adapted to receive the pineapple or other fruit, and which is movably mounted on the table so as to force theifruit over and into a sizing tube or horn 18;. This sizing tube, which is preferably of cylindrical shape, and has asharp, bevelled` forward edge 19, is mounted lin any suitable manner on the table. In th'e embodiment of the in vention illustrated, the sizing tube is rota@ tably mounted in a fixed bearing or rest 20, and 'is held in place by means of the removable straps vor caps 21 and is adapted to be' The sizthe outer surface 0f the sizing tube adjacent its end. Any other means -for `cutting a cylindrical part from the inner portion of the fruit may be used ifV desired.

The holder for the fruit, 'which is prefer-- -ably mounted to move upon the tabe toward `and from the sizing tube to cause the middle portion'of a .fruit to be -cut out, comprises a plurality vof pivoted ,fingers 22. As illusl u trate'd 1n the drawings,these fingers are preferably arranged in pairs, one of the fingers of each pair being shorter than the other so-that the'two fingers of each pairv grasp the fruit at two different places, there being preferably three pairsg'of'fingers pro vided. for each holder. The fingers 22 are r pivoted as at 23 to a spider 24 which is pref- Ascrews 27, and t backward 'and Aforward on4 the table in bear-V erably. provided with a pair of apertured sleeves or lugs 25 which receive a pair of rods 26 r the like. The lugs 25 are'secureddesired, for mounting the spider 24 so that it will move toward and from the sizing tube. The spider 24 has an axially arranged tubular part orhub 29,`and 30 and 30 designate finger actuating collars slidably mounted on the hub 29, and which are connected by links 31 or other suitable means to the rear ends of fingers 22, whereby when the collars are moved forwardly or to the right in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the gripping ends of the fingers will open and when the collars are moved rearwardly, or to the left, in Figs. l, 2 andv 4, the fingers will close. These fin` ger-actuating collars are'controlled in such a manner that when the holder is moved forward to impale the fruit upon the sizing tube, the fingers will be closed upon the fruit l achievin i pose.

fruit of different sizes an placed in the holder and will grip the outer covering or skin of the fruit, and will maintain its grasp` upon such outer. covering or skin untilthe holder approaches its rearward or. starting position, whereupon the fingers will be opened to permit the skin or outer coverin of the fruit to be discharged from the hol er. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the means provided for this purpose comprise a pair of weighte levers 32 and 32 which are pivoted as at- 33 and 33 to the spider 24, the levers having projecting parts, such as lugs 34` 34', which engage in suitable recesses 35, 35', in the collars 30 30', for A'mgving those collars to open and close the fingers whenv the weighted lever is raised or lowered. The

levers 32 and 32 may be raised or lowered v independently of each other in any desired manner, cams 36 and 36 which are'mounted on thetable top being shown for ,this pur- By means of this construction the larger and smaller fingers can b e actuated independently of each other, so .that the holding device can readil adapt itself to shapes.

The spider 24 is preferably provided with an opening 37 to permit the passage through the spider of a coring tube or the like which is adapted to be forced through the fruit as it is impaled upon the sizing tube to remove the'core therefrom. The coring device may be of any suitable form, in the preferred embodiment shown, this device comprises a movable holder tube 38 or -the like which is adapted to receive the detachable coring tube 39, the coringftube 39 being provided with a bevelled end 40 adapted to fit tightly amarte within theforward end of the holder tube 38. By re'ason of this construction the coring tube 39 may be removed or replaced if iff becomes dull, or different sized coring tubes may be readily-inserted. The holder tube 38 is slidably mounted in bearings 41 arranged on a bracket 42 secured to the table.

VThese bearings 41 areay preferably spaced apart, and a pulley 43 is mounted on the holder tube 38 between the bearings. As

-bestshowrn in Fig. 2, the holder tube 38 is provided with a longitudinal keyway 44,

andthe pulley 43 carries a set screw or key 4 45 which extends into the keyway 44, wherebyvthe pulley will drive or turn the holder tube while the tube remains free to slide endwise through the pulle and the bearings. The pulley 43 is adapte to receive the usual drivin belt (not shown), whereby the coring tu e is rotated so that it may be more readily forced into the fruit to remove the core without bruising or otherwise damaging it. The cores enter the caring` tube and are discharged from the machine through the holder tube. l

46 designates an inclined discharge apron connected to the sizing tube 18and which acts to receive the cored and sized fruits after they are forced through the sizing tube, and which guides them toa substantiall horizontal guide member. 47 leading to tlie slicing device.

Suitable means are provided for conveying the pared fruits to the slicing device. ln the preferred embodiment illustrated, 48 designates an endless, intermittently movable chain, which `travels over sprocket wheels 49 and 50, this endless chain being provided with a number of projecting parts or arms 51 which, as the chain travels, project into the discharge apron 46 and guide device 47 through a slot 52 formed therein, and which engage the pared fruits and by intermittent'movementscarry them forward into the slicing device and, permit them ,to rest therein until they have been sliced. The slicing device may be of any suitable or desired construction, that shown compris ing a tunnel or tube-like knife-guiding device into which the cored and sized fruits- Aare passed, and which is provided with a vof the rings above the enlarged bottom portions forming spaces or slits 55 into which the cutting knives are adapted to pass. The preferred form of cutting knife comprises a frame 56, Figs. 9 and 10, which carries a plurality of blades 57. This frame is journalled to turn about the axisof a shaft or pivot 58 and has a crank arm 59 by means of which the frame may be moved to and from full and dotted line positions indicated in Fig. 9. The knife frame 56 ispreferably provided at its opposite ends with a pair of channels 60, the inner sides of which are .preferably notched as .at 61, Fig. 10, .to per-` mit the cutting blades to extend through the notches into the channels. The ends ofthe cutting blades are secured to suitable endl blocks 63 and are held in place in the frame by means of machine screws 64 or other suitable devices which extend through the outerl sides of the channels"v and are-threaded into the end blocks 63. This construction permits of theready removal and replacement of the blades and also facilitates the tensioning or tightening of the blades as desired. By arranging the pivot 58 of the knife frame above the fruit, as shown in Fig. 9, the knives in cutting the fruit are drawn through the fruit while slicing the same, thus producing a. superior cutting action. In the operation of this portion of the machine the conveyor places 'a fruit into the knife guiding device, whereupon t-he knives descend through the slits therein to effect the slicing of the fruit.. The next movement of the conveyor carries the slicedfruit out of the knife guiding device -and into a discharge trough 65 and also carries another fruit into the knife guiding device.

The means for producing relative movement betWeen'the-'several parts of themachine to effect the coring, sizing and slicing of the fruit may be of any suitable construction, that shown being operable intermittently so that each part of the machine performs one operation on the fruit. In the construction shown in the drawings, the 'machine is started by actuating a hand lever 70 whenever a fruit has been p-lacedinto the holding member. The hand lever 70` actu- .ates a suitable intermittent driving mechanism which is preferably of the type shown and described in my Patent No. 1,362,807 of December 21, 1921, and which will, therefore, not be hereindescribed. The driving mechanism is so organized that an actuation of the startin lever will cause a crank wheel or disk 71 to make a complete revolution, stopping the crank wheel in its initial position at the end of a revolution.

The vcrank disk or wheel 71 is connectedby means of a pitman orconnecting` rod 72 to one of the sleeves or lugs 25, or other por- .tion of the spider 24, so that a revolution of the crank wheel 71 causes the s ider tol movefrom the position shown lin igs. 1-3 toa position in which the pineapple will be on the sizing tube18,'as`snown in Fig. 4.

The mechanism for actuating. the conrelation to the slicing knives includes a pitman 75 also connected at one end with the crank-disk 71 and having its-other endA connected with an` arm 76 of a ratchet mechanism. The arm 76 is rigidly connected with an arm 77 having a dog or ratchet 78 pivoted thereon. The dog engages a ratchet wheel 0r disk 79 havingin the construction.sl1ow n three recesses in which the pawl 78 may engage. The ratchet wheel 79 is rigidly secured t the sprocket wheel 49, whereby the sprocket chain is advanced at each rotation of the crank wheel 71 in suchamanner that the fruit which has been sliced is removed from the slicing mechanism and a new fruit l is placed into the slicing mechanism.

-The swinging' of the knife holder orl frame 56 about itspivot 58 is effected by means of a connecting rod 80, one end of which is connected to the arm 59- of the knife fra-me and the other end of whichv is pivotally connected with a crank 81 arranged on the crank lever disk 82 secured on the end ofv one, o-f the shafts 83of the drivin mechanism. The mechanism for actuating the knives preferably voperates during the last partl of the cycle of\move ment of the machine, while the removing of the cut fruit and placing of an uncut fruit into the slicing mechanism is accomplished in the first part of the cycle.

In order to actuate the coring tube in such tion on the fruit, t e following mechanism is preferably employed.

The spider 24 is provided with a rigid, downwardly inclined arm 85, having at 1tS lower end a pivot 86 on which a. lever 87 isl mounted. This lever is pivotally connected at its lower end with a sleeve'88 having a sliding or lost motion connection with a bar or rod 90 pivoted at 91 on the frame of the machine. The movement of the sleeve 88 on the rod or bar 90 is limited by means of collars 9 2 and 93, secured to the rod 90. Any other means for securing the lower end of the lever to permit the same to have a certain amount of lost motion may be employed. The upper end of the lever 87 is connected with the'corlng tube or holder tube inA any suitable inanner. In the construction shown for this purpose, the lever 87- is provided adjacent to lts upper end with pivot p1 ns 95 having pivotal connection with a palrof rods 96,

the ends of which are pivotally secured to as to permit the tube to turn relatively to the sleeve. VEndwise movement`of the sleeve relatively to the holding Atube is prevented by means of collars 98. inthe operation of this portion of the machine it will be seen that at the` initial movement of the lspider the fruitwill be grasped by thel end thereof to move lengthwise of the rod 90 until the same engages with the collar 93. During this part of the movement of the holding member, the coringtube is not advanced, due to the lost motion connection at the lower end of the lever 87. After the completion of this portion of the movement, the pineapple is brought into engagement with the sizing tube and at the same time the further forward movement of the holder causes the lever 87 to ad- Vance the coring tube at a much more rapid rate than the holder itself lis advanced. Consequently, the coring operation is started at about the same time that the sizing` operation commences so that the coring tube will not tend to push'the fruit out of engagement with the fingers of the holding device, but will tend to help press the fruit against the sizing tube. -The coring operation will be com letedbefore the sizing operation isfinishe so that a positive. completion of both of these operations is insured.

The machine is also preferably provided with means for ejecting the' skins of Athe fruit and parts adhering thereto after the sizing operation. In the construction shown for this purpose, an annular ejector plate or disk 100 is provided, whichin its operative position lies close against the face 'of the spider 24 and forms a stop against which the end of the fruit to be acted upon may be placed in positioning the fruit in the holder; This plate 100, in the construction shown, is provided with outwardly eX- tending fingers 101, which 'are adapted to engage the skin of the fruit, and the ejector plate is movable outwardly from its inoperL ative position to push the skin of the fruit out of engagement with the holding fingers. 1n the construction shown, the ejecting plate is guided in its movement by Vmeans of rods 102 which are slidably arranged on the spider 24, and the rear ends of which are secured toa bridging or 'connecting member 104 which is also slidably mounted o the rods 96, connecting the coring device with its actuating leverv 87. During the advance -movement of the holding device, the ejector disk orplate remains in the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2, but on the return movement of the-holding member into its initial position the ejector disk is moved outwardly into the position shown The forward than@ in Figs. 7 and 8. This movement of the ejector disk may be effected in any desired manne-r. purpose, the outward movement of the ejector disk 100 is effected by retarding the rearward motion thereof while the holding member continues its rearward motion. For this purpose the bridging or connecting member 104 is adapted to engage a detentor stop member 105, which in the construction shown is mounted on the bearing bracket 42 and is yieldingly'held in the 'position to engage the bridging or connecting member 104 by means of a spring 107. ln the construction shown, the detent member 105 is provided with a shoulder 108 adapted to engage the bridging or connecting member, and with a linger or projection 10.9 which extends beyond the shoulder 108. Since the lbridging member is slidably mounted on the rods 96 which engage the coring tube, the ejecting disk 100 will normally move with the holding device, but when the bridging member or connecting member 104 engages the shoulder 108, the ejecting disk will move outwardly to discharge the skin of the fruit.

In order to facilitate the discharge of the skins from the holding member, means are preferably provided for opening the aws of the holding member before the same reaches its rear position. For this purpose, in the construction shown, a lever 112 is employed, which is also adapted to turn about the axis of` the pivot or pin 86 on the end of thev arm 85 of th'e spider, and which has suitable means, such as upwardly extending arms 113 adapted ,to engage the weighted levers 32, 32. The lower arm of the lever 112 is `provided with a pin or rod114 adapted to 2, the pin/114 engages the-shoulder 115, thus causing the upper arms 113, to swing from.

the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the positions shown in Fig. "l, in-which positions the weighted levers 32 and 32 will be raised so as to move the fingers of the holder into A releasing positions. Upon further movement of the holder toits receiving position, the pin or rod 114 will be released from engagement with the shoulder 115 of the bar 116, at which time the cams 36, 36 will lhold the fingers of the holding member in receiving positions. The releasing of the pin or rod114 from the shoulder' 115 is effected ln the construction shown for this by means of the link 117 which slidably eni gages a projecting end of' the rod 116. The rearward movement of the pivot 86 will cause the link 117 to raise the rod 116 so as iso 2'5 several operations of the coring, sizing and to its initial position,`after ejecting the skin of the fruit, the bridging or connecting mem- 'ber 104 is released from engagement with the stop ondetent 105 by means of a .projection 120 on the extreme upper end of thecoring tube actuating lever 87. This projection is adapted tov engage the nger 109 of the detent to raise the same sufficiently to release the bridging'member 104. Upon further rearward movement of the upper end of the lever 87, a shoulder 121 of the rod 96 engages the bridging member 104 and moves the same, together withv the ejecting disk 100 toits rear, inoperative position. Further movement of the holding member then causes the lever 87 to swing about the pivot 86 so. that the lower` sleeve 88 thereof engages the collar 92, whereupon the machine comes to a standstill and is ready to receive another fruit. Means of other construction for ejecting the fruit may be provided.

lBy means of the machine described, the

slicing, and the ejecting .of the skin of the fruit may be accompllshed in one operation of the machine, so that the time and labor involved in performing these' operations on separate machines is saved. The fruit when being `operated upon by this machine need only be handled once, namely in positioning the samein the holder, and upon actuating the starting lever 70 the machine automatically performs the various opera- .tions on the fruit.

. I claim as'my invention:

1. In a machine for operating on fruit, the combination of a sizing tube,` a holder for the fruit, a coring tube,and means for moving the 'holder and coring tube relatively to the sizing tube to effect the coring and sizing of the fruit in one operation.

2. In a machine for operating on fruit, the combination of a sizing tube, a holder for the fruit, a coring tube,fand means for moving said parts relatively to each other so that the coring and sizing tubes act simultaneously on the fruit.

3. In a machine for operating on fruit, the combination ofa sizing tube and a coi-ing tube, a holder for the fruit, one ofsaid tubes being arranged axially with regard to said holder, means for moving said holder toward and from the other tube. and means for moving said first mentioned tube rela- ,/said first mentioned tube relatively to said holder and into telescopic relation to said other tube, and means for removing the outer portion of the fruit from said holder :afterthe sizing' operation. A

5. In a machine for operating on fruit, the combination of a sizl-ng tube, a holder for engaging the outer surface of the fruit, a coring tube arranged concentrically in regard to said holder and to said sizing tube, means for moving said holder in a direction to carry the fruit to said sizing tube, and means for moving said coring tube through the axis of said holder and into said sizing tube.

6. In a machine for operatingv on fruit, the combination of a sizing tube, a holder for the fruit, a. coring tube, and means for moving said holder and 4one of said tubes relatively to the other tube to effect the corand means for removing the outer portion of the fruit from the holder after the siz- 4 ing o eration.

7. n' a machine forA operating on frult, the combination of a reciprocatory holder for the fruit including a plurality of fingers,

adapted to engage the outer portion of the fruit, and means for causing-said fingers to the fruit when saidholder moves out of its initial osition and for releasing the 'fruit when sald holder returns to-its initial position.

8. A reciprocatory holdenfbr .fruit in cluding fruit gripping fingers `pivotally mounted .about the axis'A of the holder and adapted to engage the outer surface of the fruit, an axially movable member connected with said fingers for causing the same to be moved into and out of their gripping'positions, and means operated by the reciproca# tion of the holder for guiding the movement of'said axially movable member relatively to said holder. j

9. A reciprocatory holderfor fruit including fruitgripping fingers pivotallymounted about the axis of the holder and adapted to engage the outer surface of the fruit, an axially movable member connected with said fingers for causing the same to be'moved into and out of their gripping positions, and. means for'yieldinglymoving said axially movable members into a position to move said fingers into their gripping positions when said holder moves out of its initial position, and into releasing positions when said holder returns to its initial position.

10. A holder for fruit including fruit gripping fingers pivotally mounted about the axisof the holder and adapted to engage the outer surface of the fruit, an aXip ally movable member connected with said fingers for causing the same to be moved into and out of their gripping positions, a weighted lever which normally moves said fingers into Ytheir gripping positions, and

means for moving said Wei hted lever into a position for opening said ngers when said older is in an initial position.

11. In a1 machine for operating on fruit',

vthe combination of a holder having a plurality of vsets of fingers adapted to ip the fruit at different distances from t e ends thereof, and means for independently moving each of said sets of fingers into their fruit-engaging positions.

12. In a machine foroperating on fruit,

the combination of a holder including fin-Y gers ivotally mounted and adapted to 'be move intoV ostions to engage the fruit, a central tubu ar member connected with said holder, and a sleeve mo-vably mounted on said tubular member for'mo'ving said fingers into and out of. gripping positions.

13. In apmachine for voperatin on fruit, the combination `of a holder inc uding ingers ivotally mounted and adapted tobe move into sitions to engage the fruit, a

central tubu ar member connected with said holder, a sleevemovabl mounted on said tubular member for moving said fingers into and out ofgripping positions, and a weighted lever connected with said sleeve for yield- '36 ingly' moving'.said fingersinto their fruitgripping positions.

14. In a machine for operating on fruit,

i theY combination oda holder including iingers pivotally mounted and adapted to be moved into' positions to engage thefruit, a central tubu ar member connected with said holder, a sleeve movably mounted on said tubular member for moving said fingers into and out of gripping'position's, and al coring tube arranged Within said tubular member and` movable into engagement with the fruit while the" saine is held in said holder.

15. In a, machine for operating on fruit, the combination cfa sizing tube, a holder for'theV fruit, a coring tube, mechanism for. slicing the cored and sized fruit after the same leaves said sizing tube, and mechanismA for causing the coring, sizing and holding members to operate on one fruit While the slicing member is operating on a previously' sized and cored fruit.

16. n a machinerfor operating on fruit,

Y the combination of a slicing tube, a holder for the Jfruit, a corin tube, mechanism for slicing the cored an sized fruit after the same leaves said sizing tube, mechanism for causing the coring, sizing and holding members'to operate on one' fruit While the slicin member is operating on a previously size and Vcored fruit, and an intermittently. operating conveyor for `ieedin the sized fruit from the sizing device to tie slicing device, said conveyor alsorbeing operated by said mechanism.v v

V17. In a machine for operating on fruit. the combination'ofa holder for the fruit, a

sizing member and a coring member, means for timing the operation of the sizing andcoring members on the fruit so that the twov members start the operations at approximately the same, time and so that the Vcoring'member completes the coring operation before the sizing member completes the sizing operation, said coring and sizing members starting their operations at opposite ends oi' the fruit.

18. In a machine for operating on fruity' the combination of a relativply stationary sizing member, a holding member movable toward and from said sizing member, a coring member movable axially with reference to said holding member toward and into said sizing member, and a connection between said holding member and said coring member for causing the coring member to. move initially at substantially the same -speed as said holding member, and then to advance at a speed greater than said holding member to cause the coring member. to pass through the fruitheld by saidihlding member. l f

19. Ina machine for operatingl on fruit,

the combination of a relatively stationary sizing member, a holding member movable toward and from said sizing member, a coring member movable axially with reference to said holding member ytov/"ard and into said sizing member, a lever pivoted on said `said sizing member, a lever pivoted on said holding member and Vconnected with' said coring member, an ejecting member movholding member and having a lost motion v able into a position to eject the skin of the fruit from said`holder, and means actuated by said lever for moving said ejecting mem.- 'ber out of its ejecting position.

21. A holder for fruit including gripping fingers adapted to engage the outer portion of the..fruit, an ejecting mechanism including a part arranged onA 'said holder and` against which the fruit isplaced in ositionin the same inV said holder, and vv ch norma y moves with said holder, means for moving the' holder into a position inwhich the fruit is operated upon and back to a starting position, and a detent `which en.-

gages said ejecting mechanism and prevents the movement thereof to the -s'tartingposi tion, whereby said ejecting mechanism'expels the outer portion of the fruit from said holder.

22. A holder for fruit including gripping fingers adapted to engage the outer portion of the fruit, an ejecting mechanism including a part arranged on said holder 'and against which the fruit is placed in positioning the same in said holder and which normally moves with said holder, means for moving the holder into a position in which and against which the fruit is placed in positioning the same lin said holder and which 'normally moves withv said holder, means for moving the holder, into a position in which the fruit is operated' vupon and 'back vto a starting position, a detent which engages said ejecting mechanism and prevents the movement t ereof to the starting position, whereby said ejecting mechanism expels the outer portion of the fruit-trom said holder, a coring tube movable relatively to said holder, and av device for actuating said cor ingftube and which move's said efjecting mechanism to its initial position with yreference tosaid holder after said ejecting mechanism has expelled theouter portion of the fruit from Saidholder.

24. A holder for fruit including gripping fingers adaptedto-engage the outer rtion of the fruit, an'ejecting mechanism lncluding a part arranged on said holderand against whichthe fruit is placed in positioning the same in said holderl and which normally moves .with said holder,l means for moving the holder ,into a position in which the fruit is operated upon andbackto a starting position, a detent. which' engages said ejecting mechanism and prevents the movementthereof to' the starting position, whereby'said ejecting mechanism expels the outer portion of the fruit from said holder,

a coring tube movablerelatively toy said holder,- and a lever pivoted on said holder for actuating said. coring tube, saidlever having a projection which is adapted to release'said` detent and move said ejecting mechanism to its initial position with reference to said holder.

25. In a machine for operating on `fruit, the combination of means for coring and sizing the fruit, a slicing mechanism including a tub-ular member provided with a plurality 0f slits into which the fruit is fed from said Vcoring and sizing means, and a frame having a plurality of knives mounted thereon and adapted to pass through said slits for slicing the fruit.

26. In `a machine for operating on fruit, -the combination of means for sizing fruit means for slicing the fruit, including a tubu- .lar member provided`witha plurality of slits, 'a conveyor formoving the fruit discharged from said sizlng means to said tubular member, and a knife frame having .a

plurality of knives adapted to enter saidl slits toslice the fruit.V

27. In a machine for operating on fruit,

the combination -of means .for slicing the fruit including means for supporting the fruit while being sliced, and a swingingA knife "frame for supporting a plurality of knives and including channel 'shaped porv tionsl in which the opposite ends of the. knives are secured, and tightening meansl for each knife for holding said knives taut in said -frame. v..

28. In a machine foroperating on fruit, the combination of means for sizing fruit, conveying means to which the fruit passes from saidl sizing means, and slicing means to vwhich the fruit is passed by said conveymg means.

y29. In a machine foroperating on fruit, the combination lof 'means for sizing fruit, conveying meansto which the fruit passes from saidv sizin means, slicing means to which the fruit 1s passed by said conveying means', and mechanism-for causing said siz-.. v.

ing and conve-ying'lneans -to operate alternately. g 7 30. In a machine for operating on fruit,

thefcombination of Ameans for sizing fruit,

conveying means to which the 'fruit passes from .saidgsizing means, slicing means to which the fruit is passed by said conveying means, and mechanism connecting said sizlng, conveying. and sllcmg means to cause 4said several means to operate, at proper intervals.

ELGIE J. LEWIS. 

